Promote & Preserve stories of U.S. fallen soldiers/sailors
Pamela Yvette Gay, age 19, from Virginia, Surry county.
Service era: Gulf War
Date of death: Sunday, March 10, 1991
Death details: Died in a vehicle accident in the Middle East
Cemetery: City Point National
Source: White House Commission on Remembrance, Department of Defense, findagrave.com,, Library of Virginia, Richmond, Assocaited Press
Dale G Vezey, age 39, from Virginia, Virginia Beach, City of county.
Service era: Cold War
Date of death: Friday, February 16, 1990
Death details: Accident, about 70 miles Southeast of Jacksonville, Florida. A Navy investigation states he apparently didn’t realize a practice dogfight was over before his A-4 Skyhawk attack jet crashed into another jet over the Atlantic Ocean.
Cemetery: Oconee Memorial Park in Watkinsville, Georgia
Source: Virginia Military Dead Database the Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia.; St. Lucie New Tribune (1990), findagrave.com
Paul G Collins, age 23, from Virginia.
Service era: Cold War
Date of death: Tuesday, June 23, 1981
Cemetery: Holston View in Webder City, Virginia
Source: Library of Virginia, Richmond, findagrave.com
Roby G Martin, age 51, from Virginia.
Service era: Cold War
Date of death: Wednesday, June 10, 1981
Cemetery: Forest Lawn, Norfolk
Source: Library of Virginia, Richmond, findagrave.com
Arthur L Hedrick from Virginia.
Service era: Cold War
Date of death: Friday, April 17, 1981
Source: Library of Virginia, Richmond
Wesley W Robinson, age 35, from Virginia.
Service era: Cold War
Date of death: Sunday, April 5, 1981
Cemetery: Forest Level Baptist Church in Forest
Source: Library of Virginia, Richmond, findagrave.com
Henry M Jr Townes, age 35, from Virginia.
Service era: Cold War
Date of death: Tuesday, January 6, 1981
Cemetery: Pleasant Hill Baptist Church, Macon, North Carolina
Source: Library of Virginia, Richmond, findagrave.com
Harry Lee Carr, age 21, from Virginia, Rockingham county.
Service era: Korea
Date of death: Wednesday, July 8, 1953
Death details: On July 6, 1953, a large Chinese Communist Forces (CCF) unit attacked and overran the U.S. Army outposts on Pork Chop Hill in an attempt to seize whatever territory possible before the impending armistice agreement. After fighting for the position for four days, on July 10, the 7th Infantry Division Commander determined that the CCF disregard for casualties and desire to hold the outpost outweighed the position’s tactical value, and ordered a withdrawal that was eventually completed on July 11. The U.S. never again controlled Pork Chop Hill, preventing thorough recovery efforts for those who were killed or went missing during the fighting. Corporal Harry Lee Carr entered the U.S. Army from Virginia and was a member of Company E, 2nd Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division. He went missing in action on July 8 during the intense fighting on Pork Chop Hill, though exact circumstances surrounding his loss are unknown. He was never reported to be a prisoner of war, and his remains were not identified among those returned to the U.S. following the ceasefire. Today, Corporal Carr is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.
Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency
Andrew W. III King, age 20, from Virginia, Roanoke county.
Service era: Korea
Date of death: Monday, July 6, 1953
Death details: On July 6, 1953, a large Chinese Communist Forces (CCF) unit attacked and overran the U.S. Army outposts on Pork Chop Hill in an attempt to seize whatever territory possible before the impending armistice agreement. After fighting for the position for four days, on July 10, the 7th Infantry Division Commander determined that the CCF disregard for casualties and desire to hold the outpost outweighed the position’s tactical value, and ordered a withdrawal that was eventually completed on July 11. The U.S. never again controlled Pork Chop Hill, preventing thorough recovery efforts for those who were killed or went missing during the fighting. Sergeant First Class Andrew Wayne King IV, who joined the U.S. Army from Virginia, served with Company D, 1st Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division. He went missing in action on July 6, as his unit fought Chinese soldiers for control of Pork Chop Hill. No one saw him fall in battle, and due to conditions on the battlefield, it was not possible to conduct a search for him. He was not reported to be a prisoner of war, and his remains were not identified among those returned to U.S. custody after the ceasefire. The area of his loss is now part of the Demilitarized Zone. Today, Sergeant First Class King is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.
Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency
Jess Alex Jr. Osborne, age 20, from Virginia, Russell county.
Service era: Korea
Date of death: Tuesday, October 23, 1951
Death details: On October 23, 1951, a B-29A Superfortress (tail number 44-94045, call sign “Able 1”) departed Kadena Air Base, Japan, carrying thirteen crew members on a bombing mission targeting Namsi Air Field in northwest North Korea. “Able 1” flew as a part of a strike force that included ten B-29s with fighter support. As the formation approached the target, it was attacked by anti-aircraft artillery fire and MiG-15 fighters. Just after “Able 1” completed its bombing run, it was hit in the right wing fuel tank, causing an explosion with a large amount of smoke. The damaged aircraft was flying under control but was losing altitude, and it eventually crashed on a mud flat near the island of Sinmi-Do. Initial searches that continued until October 26, failed to locate the missing Superfortress or its crew. On October 29, a United Nations Partisan Infantry Korea (UNPIK) team discovered the aircraft’s wreckage along with the remains of the radio operator and navigator, but the increasing enemy activity and the rising tide in the area prevented further recovery efforts that day. Returning the next day, UNPIK discovered that one set of these remains had washed away. However, the team collected another body, which they removed for temporary burial on the island of Oesun-Do. In early November 1951, the remains of a third body that was believed to be the radar operator washed ashore on Ho-Do where it was buried by UNPIK forces. Attempts to locate the Oesun-Do an Ho-Do burial sites or recovery of any of the other missing crew remains from the crash site, have been unsuccessful following the war. Airman Second Class Jess Alex Osborne Jr. entered the U.S. Air Force from Virginia and served with the 371st Bombardment Squadron, 307th Bombardment Wing. He was a gunner aboard this Superfortress when it was lost. No returning POWs mentioned contact with A2C Osborne, nor was he seen at any known holding point, interrogation center, hospital, or permanent POW camp. Today, Airman Second Class Osborne is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.
Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency